Newcastle United remain the frontrunners in the race to sign Darren Bent from Aston Villa but a number of other Premier League clubs are monitoring the striker's position and hoping to capitalise on the chance to sign him for a cut-price fee. Fulham, whose manager, Martin Jol, is a long-time admirer of Bent, Crystal Palace and Hull City are among the clubs interested in recruiting the former England international who has been told that he can leave Villa this summer. Bent cost Villa a club-record £18m, rising to £24m with add-ons, when they signed him from Sunderland in 2011, but he was a peripheral figure last season, starting only 12 matches in all competitions. He has two years remaining on his contract and has a prolific goalscoring record in the Premier League but his age – he turned 29 in February – means Villa may well need to reduce their £8m asking price.

Swansea City are hopeful they will complete the signing of Wilfried Bony from Vitesse Arnhem, despite the Dutch club's denial that a £10.2m deal has been agreed for the Ivory Coast striker. There is also strong interest from a number of other Premier League clubs, including Chelsea. Bony, who scored 31 goals in 30 appearances for Vitesse Arnhem in the Eredivisie last season, has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of joining Swansea in a £10.2m deal, which would smash the Welsh club's transfer record, previously £5.55m, when they signed Pablo Hernández last summer. Swansea, however, are mindful that other targets have slipped through their fingers in the last few weeks and are refusing to take anything for granted. It is understood that the League Cup winners have returned with an improved offer for Bony and are waiting to hear from Vitesse Arnhem whether that bid has been accepted. Sources at the Dutch club insisted on Thursday night that an agreement was some way off and, further to the statement that was issued earlier in the day, reiterated that Swansea are far from alone in their pursuit of the 24-year-old forward.

Andrey Arshavin has rejoined his former club Zenit St Petersburg after his contract with Arsenal expired. The 32-year-old had been on loan at Zenit in the early part of 2012.

Sunderland have agreed a fee for the 18-year-old Le Havre left-back Benjamin Mendy, according to reports in France.

Sources on Wearside have played down the claims that their interest in the France Under-19 international defender is as advanced as that, but confirmed he is very much in the club's sights.

The Newcastle defender Danny Simpson has agreed a three-year deal to join QPR after becoming a free agent.